West African Cinemas Generate N15.6bn in 2025

The West African film industry reached a historic peak in 2025, with cinema revenues climbing to N15.6 billion.

This represents a substantial leap from the N11.58 billion earned the previous year, highlighting a period of rapid financial growth and a strengthening appetite for the theatrical experience across the region.

A major catalyst for this record-breaking figure was the rise in ticket costs, which climbed from an average of N4,019 to N5,596.

While total earnings surged by over 34%, physical attendance grew more gradually by about 15%, suggesting that the market is increasingly driven by a premium audience willing to pay more for high-quality cinema outings.

In a landmark shift for the industry, Nollywood officially outperformed Hollywood in market share, claiming 49.4% of total earnings.

Local blockbusters like *Behind The Scene* made history by crossing the N1 billion mark faster than any previous release, while other indigenous hits like *Ori: The Rebirth* further solidified the dominance of domestic storytelling.

The year ended on a high note with a massive December performance that contributed roughly N4 billion to the annual total.

This festive boost was supported by a diverse lineup of 248 new films, proving that the synergy between local content and strategic holiday scheduling is a winning formula for the West African box office.